Salvia plant named ‘Florsalwhite’

ABSTRACT

A new  Salvia  plant particularly distinguished by its white flower color, excellent branching habit, multiple flowers and increased resistance to fungal disease is disclosed.

Genus and species: Salvia nemorosa L.

Variety denomination: ‘Florsalwhite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia,botanically known as Salvia nemorosa L. and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Florsalwhite’. The new cultivar originated from anuncontrolled cross made in June 2003 in Quedlinburg, Sachsen-Anhalt,Germany. The female parent was a proprietary Salvia plant named‘2398-12’ (unpatented) with white to light-rose flowers. The male parentwas an unknown Salvia plant.

The new cultivar was first propagated in March 2006 in H.I. Ambacht, TheNetherlands, and has been asexually reproduced over three generationsover a two-year period. The present invention has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for.‘Florsalwhite’ has not been made publicly available more than one yearprior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Quedlinburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

-   -   1. Pure white flower color;    -   2. Good branching habit;    -   3. Many flowers; and    -   4. High tolerance to fungal diseases

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Salvia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a plantabout 4 months old, grown in a greenhouse in Quedlinburg,Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, in the spring of 2008.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the mature flowers.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, andfoliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Florsalwhite’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inQuedlinburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. The plant history was taken on 4month old plants which were grown in a greenhouse. Color readings weretaken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references areprimarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London (R.H.S.) (1986).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical name.—Salvia nemorosa L.        -   Common name.—Woodland Sage.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Salvia plant named ‘2398-12’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Unknown Salvia plant.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Spreading, upright.        -   Height (from top of soil).—25.0 cm.        -   Width (including flowers).—30.0 cm.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Spring through autumn.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Subcordate.        -   Margin.—Crenulate.        -   Immature.—Length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Width: 1.5 cm.        -   Mature (fully expanded).—Length: 7.0 cm. Width: 2.7 cm.        -   Color, immature (upper and lower surface).—RHS 137A to RHS            137B.        -   Color, mature (upper and lower surface).—RHS 137A to RHS            137B.        -   Venation, immature.—Type: Reticulate. Color: RHS 145D.        -   Venation, mature.—Type: Reticulate. Color: RHS 145D.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Pubescent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.2 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture (both            surfaces): Pubescent.        -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—RHS 150D (Transparent).-   Stem:    -   -   Length (excluding inflorescence).—10.0 cm to 15.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.-   Flower:    -   -   Arrangement.—In verticillasters on spikes.        -   Shape.—Spike.        -   Flowering season.—Spring to autumn.        -   Flower buds.—Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Shape: Round.            Color: White.        -   Inflorescence.—Length: 10.0 cm to 12.0 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm.            Quantity of inflorescences per plant: 20 to 40.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: 0.2 cm. Depth/height: 0.8 cm.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—1 to 2 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—One upper lip and one lower lip with two lobes;            lips fused at the base.        -   Length.—Upper petal: 0.5 cm. Lower petal: 0.3 cm.        -   Width (upper and lower petal).—0.2 cm.        -   Shape (upper and lower petal).—Labiate.        -   Apex.—Upper petal: Obtuse. Lower petal: Rounded.        -   Texture (upper and lower petal).—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color (when opening).—Upper petal (both surfaces): RHS 155            (White). Lower petal (both surfaces): RHS 155 (White).        -   Color (fully open).—Upper petal (both surfaces): RHS 155            (White). Lower petal (both surfaces): RHS 155 (White).-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—2 sepals fused to form a tube.        -   Length.—0.4 cm.        -   Width.—0.25 cm.        -   Shape.—Apiculate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color (immature) (both surfaces).—RHS 141D.        -   Color (mature) (both surfaces).—RHS 141D.        -   Longitudinal stripes color (immature) (both surfaces).—RHS            141B.        -   Longitudinal stripes color (mature) (both surfaces).—RHS            141B.-   Penduncle:    -   -   Color.—RHS 150D (Transparent).        -   Length.—0.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.05 cm.        -   Aspect.—45°.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 2. Filament length: 0.1 cm.            Filament color: Transparent white.        -   Anther.—Anther color: RHS 161C. Length: 0.1 cm.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 161D.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pistil.—Pistil length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Pistil quantity: 1.        -   Stigma.—Color: Transparent white. Shape: Forked.        -   Style.—Length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Color: Transparent white.        -   Ovary color.—RHS 141D.-   Fruit and seed set: Maximum of 4 oval seeds per flower; often not    germinating.-   Seed:    -   -   Shape.—Oval to round.        -   Length.—0.15 cm to 0.16 cm.        -   Width.—0.11 cm to 0.15 cm.        -   Color.—Matte black with white marks.-   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance is typical of the species,    but with a high tolerance for fungal diseases.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Florsalwhite’ differs from the female parent ‘2398-12’ (unpatented) byhaving pure white flowers with an excellent branching habit while‘2398-12’ has white to light rose flowers and less branching habit.

‘Florsalwhite’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Schneehügel’(unpatented) by having an excellent branching habit with multipleflowers while ‘Schneehügel’ has a habit with less branching and flowers.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant as shown and describedherein.